вторник, 30 декабря 2008 г.

Since its publication in 1982 Sir Bernard Feilden's Conservation of Historic Buildings has become the standard text for architects and others involved in the conservation of historic structures. Leading practitioners around the world have praised the book as being the most significant single volume on the subject to be published. This third edition revises and updates a classic book, including completely new sections on conservation of Modern Movement buildings and non-destructive investigation.The result of the lifetime's experience of one of the world's leading architectural conservators, the book comprehensively surveys the fundamental principles of conservation in their application to historic buildings, and provides the basic information needed by architects, engineers and surveyors for the solution of problems of architectural conservation in almost every climatic region of the world. This edition is organized into three complementary parts: in the first the structure of buildings is dealt with in detail; the second focuses attention on the causes of decay and the materials they affect; and the third considers the practical role of the architect involved in conservation and rehabilitation. As well as being essential reading for architects and others concerned with conservation, many lay people with various kinds of responsibility for historic buildings will find this clearly written, jargon-free work a fruitful source of guidance and information.* Gain a valuable insight into the building conservation world* Benefit from the world's leading authority* Easy to understand, jargon-free source of guidance and information

The first detailed investigation of the reception and cultural contexts of Puccini's music, this book offers a fresh view of this historically important but frequently overlooked composer. Wilson's study explores the ways in which Puccini's music and persona were held up as both the antidote to and the embodiment of the decadence widely felt to be afflicting late-nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century Italy, a nation which although politically unified remained culturally divided. The book focuses upon two central, related questions which were debated throughout Puccini's career: his status as a national or international composer, and his status as a traditionalist or modernist. In addition, Wilson examines how Puccini's operas became caught up in a wide range of extra-musical controversies concerning such issues as gender and class. This book makes a major contribution to our understanding of both the history of opera and of the wider artistic and intellectual life of turn-of-the-century Italy.

понедельник, 29 декабря 2008 г.

The Cambridge Companion to Thomas Mann (Cambridge Companions to Literature)

by Ritchie Robertson (Editor)

Key dimensions of Thomas Mann's writing and life are explored in this collection of specially commissioned essays. In addition to introductory chapters on all the main works of fiction, the essays and diaries, there are four chapters examining Mann's oeuvre in relation to major themes. A final chapter looks at the pitfalls of translating Mann into English. The essays are well supported by supplementary material including a chronology of the period and detailed guides to further reading. Altogether the volume provides an invaluable resource for scholars and students.

Monarchy was widespread as a political system in the ancient world. This volume offers the first substantial discussion of ancient monarchies from the viewpoint of the ruler's court. The monarchies treated are Achaemenid and Sassanian Persia, the empire of Alexander, Rome under both the early and later Caesars, the Han rulers of China and Egypt's Eighteenth Dynasty. A comparative approach is adopted to major aspects of ancient courts, including their organisation and physical setting, their role as a vehicle for display, and their place in monarchial structures of power and control. This approach is broadly inspired by work on courts in later periods of history, especially early-modern France. The case studies confirm that ancient monarchies created the conditions for the emergence of a court and court society. The culturally-specific conditions in which these monarchies functioned meant variety in the character of the ruler's court from one society to another.

From primitive man's cowrie shells to the electronic cash card, from the markets of Timbuktu to the New York Stock Exchange, "The History of Money" explores how money and the myriad forms of exchange have affected humanity, and how they will continue to shape all aspects of our lives--economic, political, and personal National publicity .

In his most widely appealing book yet, one of today's leading authors of popular anthropology looks at the intriguing history and peculiar nature of money, tracing our relationship with it from the time when primitive men exchanged cowrie shells to the imminent arrival of the all-purpose electronic cash card. 320 pp. Author tour. National radio publicity. 25,000 print. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

пятница, 26 декабря 2008 г.

Marx was a highly original and polymathic thinker, unhampered by disciplinary boundaries, whose intellectual influence has been enormous. Yet in the wake of the collapse of Marxism-Leninism in Eastern Europe the question arises as to how important his work really is for us now. An important dimension of this volume is to place Marx's writings in their historical context and to separate what he actually said from what others (in particular, Engels) interpreted him as saying. Informed by current debates and new perspectives, the volume provides a comprehensive coverage of all the major areas to which Marx made significant contributions.

Written by a recognized authority on nontraditional religious movements, this resource is one of the most comprehensive books on angels and related topics currently available. More than 300 entries are included and drawn from multiple religions, such as Christianity, Islam, and Hindu traditions, as well as from pop culture. A variety of angel topics are discussed, including celebrity angels, classifications of angels, obscure angels still waiting for their big break, guardian angels, fallen angels, Anaheim angels, biblical figures associated with angels, angels in art and architecture, and angels in the media and literature. Angels are also discussed in terms of the occult and metaphysics, with entries on UFOs, fairies, and witches.

Widely acclaimed as the most authoritative and accessible one-volume dictionary available in English, this second edition offers an even richer, more comprehensive, and up-to-date survey of ideas and thinkers written by an international team of 436 contributors. This second edition includes the most comprehensive entries on major philosophers, 400 new entries including over fifty on preeminent contemporary philosophers, extensive coverage of rapidly developing fields such as the philosophy of mind and applied ethics, more entries on non-Western philosophy than any comparable volume, and increased coverage of Continental philosophy.

Book Description

Widely acclaimed as the most authoritative and accessible one-volume dictionary available in English (and now with translations into Chinese, Korean, Russian, Italian, and Spanish underway) this second edition offers an even richer, more comprehensive, and more up-to-date survey of ideas and thinkers written by an international team of 436 contributors. This second edition includes the most comprehensive entries on major philosophers, 400 new entries including over 50 on preeminent contemporary philosophers, extensive coverage of rapidly developing fields such as the philosophy of mind and applied ethics, more entries on non-Western philosophy than any comparable volume, and increased coverage of Continental philosophy.

четверг, 25 декабря 2008 г.

Product DescriptionWriting and Empire in Tacitus examines how Tacitus' historiographical career serves as an argument about his personal autonomy and social value under the peculiar political conditions of the early Roman Empire. Following the arc of his career from Agricola through Histories to Annals, this book focuses on ways in which Tacitus' writing makes implicit claims about his relationship to Roman society and about the political consequentiality of historical writing. In a sense, this book suggests, his literary career and the sense of alienation his works project form the ideal complement to his very successful political career, which, while desirable, might nonetheless give the impression of degrading submission to emperors. The discussion combines careful attention to the historian's explicit programmatic discussion of his work with larger-scale analysis of stretches of narrative that have unspoken but significant implications for how we view the function and importance of Tacitus' work. Book DescriptionA literary and historical interpretation of the literary career of the Roman historian Tacitus. It looks at how his writings Agricola, Histories, and Annals project an image of their author, and how they argue for the political importance of writing history.

Greek Laughter: A Study of Cultural Psychology from Homer to Early Christianity

by Stephen Halliwell

Product DescriptionThe first book to offer an integrated reading of ancient Greek attitudes to laughter. Taking material from various genres and contexts, the book analyses both the theory and the practice of laughter as a revealing expression of Greek values and mentalities. Greek society developed distinctive institutions for the celebration of laughter as a capacity which could bridge the gap between humans and gods; but it also feared laughter for its power to expose individuals and groups to shame and even violence. Caught between ideas of pleasure and pain, friendship and enmity, laughter became a theme of recurrent interest in various contexts. Employing a sophisticated model of cultural history, Stephen Halliwell traces elaborations of the theme in a series of important texts: ranging far beyond modern accounts of 'humour', he shows how perceptions of laughter helped to shape Greek conceptions of the body, the mind and the meaning of life. Book DescriptionThe first attempt to provide an integrated account of the bodily and psychological workings of laughter in ancient Greece. Adopting a wide chronological perspective and dealing with numerous aspects of cultural history, Halliwell shows how the theme of laughter can shed light on Greek ethical values and attitudes to life. About the AuthorStephen Halliwell is Professor of Greek at the University of St Andrews. His most recent book, The Aesthetics of Mimesis: Ancient Texts and Modern Problems (2002), has been awarded an international prize, the 'Premio Europeo d'Estetica' for 2008.

Product DescriptionThis detailed history of explores Rome’s interaction with its Persian neighbour and enemy from the first century BC to the third century AD. Peter Edwell takes the innovative approach in treating the area in regional terms, giving more nuanced interpretations than are available in broader treatments of the Roman Near East.

ReviewThere is much of interest here for scholars in the world of Greek performance Robin Mitchell-Boyask, Bryn Mawr Classical Review Product DescriptionA collection of essays, by leading international scholars, on the history of the Greek theatre, and on the wider context of festival culture in which theatrical activity took place in the Greek world. The emphasis is on the documentary material - inscriptions, archaeological remains and monuments - which provides so much of our 'hard' evidence for the activities of the theatre. Much of the important material discussed here is unknown except to specialists, and these studies offer access to its interpretation to a wider audience. They cover a wide range of time and place, from the earliest days of the Greek theatre to the Roman period, with special emphasis on the neglected Hellenistic period, which is especially rich in documentary evidence. About the AuthorPeter Wilson is William Ritchie Professor of Classics at the University of Sydney.

среда, 24 декабря 2008 г.

With the onset of decolonisation, the rise and fall of fascism and communism, the technological revolution and the rapidly increasing power of the United States, the world since 1900 has witnessed global change on an immense scale. Providing a comprehensive survey of the key events and personalities of this period throughout the world, A History of the World includes discussion of topics such as: * the rivalry between European nations from 1900-1914 * the Depression and the rise of fascism during the 1920s and 1930s * the global impact of the Cold War * decolonisation and its effects * the continuing conflict in the Middle East. This new edition has been updated throughout to take account of recent historical research. Bringing the story up to date, J.A.S. Grenville includes a discussion of events such as 9/11, recent economic problems in Latin America and the second Gulf War.

Rivers of the World: A Social, Geographical, and Environmental Sourcebook

by James R. Penn

This compelling look at the important rivers of the world provides both timely environmental information and historical data to highlight the impact of rivers on the economies and cultures of the communities that surround them. There are about 200 river entries, ranging in length from several paragraphs to several pages. All of the major rivers are covered--the Amazon, Mississippi, Nile, Wei, and others--and enough are included from outside North America to give the book a comprehensive global feel. The entries are arranged alphabetically, with cross-references to help locate rivers with variant spellings.

Encyclopedia of Contemporary Japanese Culture (Encyclopedias of Contemporary culture)

by Sandra Buckley

Product DescriptionOffering extensive coverage, this new A-Z reference reflects the vibrant, diverse, and evolving culture of modern Japan, from 1945 to the present day. Over 700 entries cover areas such as literature, film, architecture, food, health, political economy, religion, and technology. Suggestions for further reading, a comprehensive system of cross-referencing, a thematic contents list, and an extensive index all help navigate the reader around the encyclopedia and on to further study.

пятница, 19 декабря 2008 г.

Product DescriptionFrom Shakespeare's "The Tempest" to Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale", from Coppola's "Apocalypse Now" to the Wachowski brothers' "The Matrix", writers and film directors have made and remade 'myth'. Laurence Coupe not only offers students a comprehensive overview of the way that the concept of 'myth' has developed, but also shows how mythic themes, structures and symbols have persisted into literature and entertainment of the present day.This introductory volume: illustrates the relation between myth, culture and literature with discussions of poetry, fiction, film and popular song; explores uses made of the term 'myth' within the fields of literary criticism, anthropology, cultural studies, feminism, Marxism and psychoanalysis; discusses the association between modernism, post modernism, myth and history; familiarizes the reader with themes such as the dying god, the quest for the grail, the relation between 'chaos' and 'cosmos', and the vision of the end of time; and, demonstrates the growing importance of the green dimension of myth. Fully updated and revised in this new edition, "Myth" is a comprehensive introduction to one of the most important and fascinating aspects of cultural narrative, offering both a useful tool to students first approaching the topic and a valuable contribution to the study of myth itself.

The Works of Josephus: Complete and Unabridged, New Updated Editionby Flavius Josephus, William Whiston (Translator)

Product DescriptionThis renowned reference book has served scholars, pastors, students, and those interested in the background of the New Testament for years. The insight given into the Essene community, the destruction of Jerusalem and the interpretations and traditions of the Old Testament in first century Judaism is invaluable. The outlook of Josephus, a late first century Pharisee and historian, on Jesus and the New Testament documents is enlightening and provocative. As an original reference, The Works of Josephus is essential to a full understanding of the first century, the time of Christ and the New Testament.

Complete and unabridged, this is the best one-volume edition of the classic translation of JosephusÂ’ works. The entire text has been reset in modern, easy-to-read type; numbering corresponding to that used in the Loeb edition has been added to the text; and citations and cross-references have been updated from Roman numerals to Arabic numbers.

The Dictionary Of Modern American Philosophers (4 Volume Set)by Richard T. Hull

Product DescriptionThe Dictionary of Modern American Philosophers includes both academic and non-academic philosophers, and a large number of female and minority thinkers whose work has been neglected. It includes those intellectuals involved in the development of psychology, pedagogy, sociology, anthropology, education, theology, political science, and several other fields, before these disciplines came to be considered distinct from philosophy in the late nineteenth century. Each entry contains a short biography of the writer, an exposition and analysis of his or her doctrines and ideas, a bibliography of writings, and suggestions for further reading. While all the major post-Civil War philosophers are present, the most valuable feature of this dictionary is its coverage of a huge range of less well-known writers, including hundreds of presently obscure thinkers. In many cases, the Dictionary of Modern American Philosophers offers the first scholarly treatment of the life and work.

четверг, 18 декабря 2008 г.

The Minimalist Program (Current Studies in Linguistics)by Noam Chomsky

Product DescriptionThe Minimalist Program consists of four recent essays that attempt to situate linguistic theory in the broader cognitive sciences. In these essays the minimalist approach to linguistic theory is formulated and progressively developed. Building on the theory of principles and parameters and, in particular, on principles of economy of derivation and representation, the minimalist framework takes Universal Grammar as providing a unique computational system, with derivations driven by morphological properties, to which the syntactic variation of languages is also restricted. Within this theoretical framework, linguistic expressions are generated by optimally efficient derivations that must satisfy the conditions that hold on interface levels, the only levels of linguistic representation. The interface levels provide instructions to two types of performance systems, articulatory-perceptual and conceptual- intentional. All syntactic conditions, then, express properties of these interface levels, reflecting the interpretive requirements of language and keeping to very restricted conceptual resources. The Essays Principles and Parameters Theory.Some Notes on Economy of Derivation and Representation.A Minimalist Program for Linguistic Theory.Categories and Transformations in a Minimalist Framework.

About the Author Noam Chomsky is Institute Professor and Professor of Linguistics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

This collection of specially commissioned essays offers the latest research on a broad array of nineteenth-century performance genres, lucidly written, by leading scholars in the field. It will be of interest to students of historiography, theatre history, British popular culture, and leisure studies.

Book Description

This collection of specially commissioned essays offers the latest research on a broad array of nineteenth-century performance genres, lucidly written, by leading scholars in the field. It will be of interest to students of historiography, theater history, British popular culture, and leisure studies.

Product DescriptionScience fiction is at the intersection of numerous fields. It is literature which draws on popular culture, and engages in speculation about science, history, and all varieties of social relations. This volume brings together essays by scholars and practitioners of science fiction, which look at the genre from different angles. It examines science fiction from Thomas More to the present day; and introduces important critical approaches (including Marxism, postmodernism, feminism and queer theory).

Book DescriptionScience fiction is at the intersection of numerous fields. It is a literature which draws on popular culture, and which engages in speculation about science, history, and all types of social relations. This volume brings together essays by scholars and practitioners of science fiction, which look at the genre from these different angles. It examines science fiction from Thomas More to the present day, and introduces important critical approaches including Marxism, postmodernism, feminism and queer theory. A number of well-known science fiction writers contribute to this volume.

Mighty Lewd Books: The Development of Pornography in Eighteenth-Century Englandby Julie Peakman

Product DescriptionMighty Lewd Books describes the emergence of a new, home-grown English pornography as seen in flagellation novellas which burst to the fore in the 1770s. Prior to this, English erotica had included a particular style of bawdy material marked by its euphemisms and double entendres. Through the examination of over 500 pieces of British erotica, this book looks at sex as seen in erotic culture, religion and medicine throughout the long eighteenth-century, and provides a radical new approach to the study of sexuality.

Book Description

Mighty Lewd Books describes the emergence of a new, home-grown English pornography as seen in flagellation novellas which burst to the fore in the 1770s. Prior to this, English erotica had included a particular style of bawdy material marked by its euphemisms and double entendres. Through the examination of over 500 pieces of British erotica, this book looks at sex as seen in erotic culture, religion and medicine throughout the long eighteenth-century, and provides a radical new approach to the study of sexuality.

среда, 17 декабря 2008 г.

Product DescriptionJohn Deathridge presents a different and critical view of Richard Wagner based on recent research that does not shy away from some unpalatable truths about this most controversial of composers in the canon of Western music. Deathridge writes authoritatively on what Wagner did, said, and wrote, drawing from abundant material already well known but also from less familiar sources, including hitherto seldom discussed letters and diaries and previously unpublished musical sketches. At the same time, Deathridge suggests that a true estimation of Wagner does not lie in an all too easy condemnation of his many provocative actions and ideas. Rather, it is to be found in the questions about the modern world and our place in it posed by the best of his stage works, among them Tristan und Isolde and Der Ring des Nibelungen. Controversy about Wagner is unlikely to go away, but rather than taking the line of least resistance by regarding him blandly as a "classic" in the Western art tradition, Deathridge suggests that we need to confront the debates that have raged about him and reach beyond them, toward a fresh and engaging assessment of what he ultimately achieved.

From the Inside Flap"This collection provides us with that rarest of objects: a genuinely new book on Wagner. Virtually every page offers fresh perspectives, some of them mined from the most unlikely of sources; indeed, the sheer eclecticism of the book, its willingness to range widely and irreverently through both popular and elite culture, is one of its greatest strengths."--Roger Parker, author of Remaking the Song: Operatic Visions and Revisions from Handel to Berio

"John Deathridge is one of the most authoritative, widely-regarded Wagner scholars around in any language. Few can match his command of scholarship and primary sources, and no one else knows how to put them to such clever, provocative uses. In addition, Deathridge enjoys an impressive range of critical, historical, and literary reference. The writing is consistently lively and engaging. The collection will provide a welcome change of diet for those tired of the usual Wagnerian fare. This is a welcome contribution, indeed."--Thomas Grey, author of Wagner's Musical Prose: Texts and Contexts

About the AuthorJohn Deathridge is King Edward Professor of Music at King's College London. He is the author, with Carl Dahlhaus, of The New Grove Wagner, co-editor of the Wagner-Werk-Verzeichnis (WWV) and editor of, and contributor to, the English language edition of the Wagner Handbook.

ReviewOsborne's Rossini remains indispensable both as a conspectus of, and prolegomenon to, the life and work of this most colourful of operative composers. Conor Farrington. TLS.

Review

"Osborne's Rossini remains indispensable both as a conspectus of, and prolegomenon to, the life and work of this most colourful of operatic composers." Conor Farrington, Times Literary Supplement "The 1985 edition of Richard Osborne's Rossini was already the very best Rossini biography available; the new edition surpasses it in every way. Writing now with access to the published correspondence from throughout the composer's operatic career (through 1830) and with new editions and excellent performances of most of the operas, Osborne provides real insight into the life and works of a composer whose art had been poorly understood since the middle of the nineteenth century. He hones in on the major works and explains their historical significance and aesthetic appeal. Those who love Rossini and bel canto opera are truly in Osborne's debt."-Philip Gossett, Robert W. Reneker Distinguished Service Professor of Music, University of Chicago"Richard Osborne's Rossini is an invaluable work of scholarship and passion. Life and Works together, in great detail, give the reader a splendid fund of information and allow a much clearer picture than we have ever had before, of an often misunderstood, and under-rated genius."--Sir Roger Norrington

Product DescriptionGioachino Rossini was one of the most influential, as well as one of the most industrious and emotionally complex of the great nineteenth-century composers. Between 1810 and 1829, he wrote 39 operas, a body of work, comic and serious, which transformed Italian opera and radically altered the course of opera in France. His retirement from operatic composition in 1829, at the age of 37, was widely assumed to be the act of a talented but lazy man. In reality, political events and a series of debilitating illnesses were the determining factors. After drafting the Stabat Mater in 1832, Rossini wrote no music of consequence for the best part of twenty-five years, before the clouds lifted and he began composing again in Paris in the late 1850s. During this glorious Indian summer of his career, he wrote 150 songs and solo piano pieces his 'Sins of Old Age' and his final masterpiece, the Petite Messe solennelle. The image of Rossini as a gifted but feckless amateur-the witty, high-spirited bon vivant who dashed off The Barber of Seville in a mere thirteen days-persisted down the years, until the centenary of his death in 1968 inaugurated a process of re-evaluation by scholars, performers, and writers. The original 1985 edition of Richard Osborne's pioneering and widely acclaimed Rossini redefined the life and provided detailed analyses of the complete Rossini oeuvre. Twenty years on, all Rossini's operas have been staged and recorded, a Critical Edition of his works is well advanced, and a scholarly edition of his correspondence, including 250 previously unknown letters from Rossini to his parents, is in progress. Drawing on these past two decades of scholarship and performance, this new edition of Rossini provides the most detailed portrait we have yet had of one of the worlds best-loved and most enigmatic composers.

About the Author

Richard Osborne is one of Britain's best known writers and broadcasters, and a leading authority on Rossini. Widely praised for its scholarship and readability, the original edition of his Master Musicians Rossini was seen as an infuential act of revaluation at a time of renewed interest in the composer's music and personality. Other books by Richard Osborne include Herbert von Karajan: A Life in Music (1998) and Till I End My Song. English Music and Musicians 1440-1940: A Perspective from Eton (2002). critic and broadcaster, author of Conversations with Karajan (OUP 1991), Herbert von Karajan: A Life in Music (Chatto & Windus 1998), and Till I End My Song. English Music and Musicians 1440-1940: A Perspective from Eton (Cygnet Press 2002).

From School Library JournalGrade 9 Up-This chronologically arranged collection of more than 50 biographical sketches ranges from the pioneers to contemporary players and includes such notables as Louis Armstrong, Sarah Vaughan, and Wynton Marsalis. An introduction to each era discusses the evolution of the styles that various individuals represent. Each profile focuses mainly on the subject's musical training, influences, and contributions rather than on personal background or family, and includes black-and-white photographs, a sidebar of pertinent facts, a discography, further reading, and Web sites. An excellent one-source overview of the important jazz contributors.Janet Woodward, Garfield High School, Seattle, WACopyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"As a basic reference tool, this should be useful, given Shipton's thorough scholarship and careful writing and his own experience as a musician." -- Mississippi Rag"Thoughtful, concisely written portraits summarize the lives and accomplishments of performers and composers. Well captioned black-and-white photos and many appendices accompany this useful book." -- The Horn Book Guide

Product DescriptionJazz Makers gathers together short biographies of more than 50 of jazz's greatest stars, from its early beginnings to the present. The stories of these innovative instrumentalists, bandleaders, and composers reveal the fascinating history of jazz in six parts: * The Pioneers, including Scott Joplin, Louis Armstrong, and Bessie Smith* Swing Bands and Soloists, with Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, and Billie Holiday* The Piano Giants, featuring Fats Waller, Art Tatum, and Mary Lou Williams* Birth of Bebop, including Dizzy Gillepsie, Charlie Parker, and Miles Davis* Cool Jazz, Hard Bop, and Fusion, with John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, and Stan Getz* A Century of Jazz, featuring Wynton Marsalis, Joshua Redman, and other contemporary greats.

понедельник, 15 декабря 2008 г.

ReviewAll readers will be grateful for the 11-page glossary of speciality terms, and advanced readers will welcome the substantial bibliography.–Choice

Allen so convincingly places questions of intertextual reference and origination at the heart of contemporary critical theory that this book could serve well as a key central text in any critical theory course or Victorian studies class. It is well-written, accessible to undergraduate and graduate students alike, and very well researched. As in many of the other volumes in the series, its Glossary of terms is helpful and lucid. I recommend it highly.–Victorian Poetry

Product DescriptionNo text has its meaning alone; all texts have their meaning in relation to other texts. Since Julia Kristeva coined the term in the 1960s, intertextuality has been a dominant idea within literary and cultural studies leaving none of the traditional ideas about reading or writing undisturbed.

This book, the first full-length study of intertextuality in English, fills an important gap. Following all the major turns in the term's history, this handy guide clearly explains how intertextuality is employed in structuralist, post-structuralist, semiotic, deconstructive, reader-response, marxist, feminist and psychoanalytic theory. From the alternative origins of Saussurean linguistics and the work of Bakhtin the book traces the major directions of intertextual theory to the postmodern present.

About the AuthorGraham Allen is Lecturer in English at University College, Cork. He is the author of Harold Bloom: A Poetics of Conflict (1994).

Review'This is an outstanding book that should help to persuade Egyptologists of the value of Linguistics while making the Egyptian Language fully available to Linguists ... the accuracy and penetration of Loprieno's rendering is striking.' John Baines, The Times Higher Education Supplement

Review "Recommended as an essential introductory book to Egyptian language." The Reader's Review

"As one would expect from this expert in Afroasiatic aspect studies, this is an exemplary application of current textlinguistic thinking to an ancient language and it will certainly inform the work of any Semitist....Semitists also have a lot to gain on the subjects of word order and clausal relations. The discussions of TAM and negation functions and grammaticalization rate among the main contributions for linguists not concerned with Afroasiatic languages. Loprieno ends with a very provacative bried reference to an issue close to the life of any field linguist-the relation between writing system and cultural ideology." Andy Warren, Notes on Linguistics

"This book is no doubt a turning point in the study of Egyptian language with potential far reaching impact, and should be consulted by linguists and Egyptologists alike." Mu-Chou Poo, The International Journal of African Historical Studies

"Loprieno's book is therefore most welcome and will serve as an excellent, state-of-the-field account of Ancient Egyptian. As a general linguistic and diachronic account, it bridges the gap between specialist grammars and linguists and others who want an overview of Egyptian. The book will be particularly useful for those who teach later stages of the Egyptian language (demotic and Coptic) to students who have not done prior work in Egyptian. Those who have had some training of are at the beginning stages of learning Egyptian will find the index of passages very helpful." J.G. Manning, Stanford University

Product DescriptionThe language of Ancient Egypt has been the object of careful investigation since its decipherment in the nineteenth century, but this is the first accessible account that uses the insight of modern linguistics. Antonio Loprieno discusses the hieroglyphic system and its cursive varieties, and the phonology, morphology and syntax of Ancient Egyptian, as well as looking at its genetic ties with other languages of the Near East. This book will be indispensable for both linguists and Egyptologists.

Language Notes Text: English --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Book DescriptionAlthough Ancient Egyptian has been the object of careful investigation since its decipherment in the nineteenth century, this is the first account to include the insight of modern linguistics. It covers the hieroglyphic system and its cursive varieties, as well as phonology, morphology and syntax.

Product DescriptionPhonology - the study of how the sounds of speech are represented in our minds - is one of the core areas of linguistic theory, and is central to the study of human language. This state-of-the-art handbook brings together the world's leading experts in phonology to present the most comprehensive and detailed overview of the field to date. Focusing on the most recent research and the most influential theories, the authors discuss each of the central issues in phonological theory, explore a variety of empirical phenomena, and show how phonology interacts with other aspects of language such as syntax, morphology, phonetics, and language acquisition. Providing a one-stop guide to every aspect of this important field, The Cambridge Handbook of Phonology will serve as an invaluable source of readings for advanced undergraduate and graduate students, an informative overview for linguists, and a useful starting point for anyone beginning phonological research.

Book DescriptionPhonology - the study of how the sounds of speech are represented in our minds - is one of the core areas of linguistic theory. This state-of-the-art handbook brings together the world's leading experts in phonology to present the most comprehensive and detailed overview of the field to date.

About the Author Paul de Lacy is Assistant Professor in the Department of Linguistics, Rutgers University.

Dr. Furst demonstrates with a wealth of cross-cultural and historical data and some of his own first-hand experiences the often decisive role hallucinogens have sometimes played, and continue to play, in the maintenance of social systems in the traditional world, and their positive role in rituals of religion or initiation, mythology and symbolism, and in art, as well as in psychotherapy and curing of physical ills. I strongly recommend this book to every reader interested in our heritage and in human behavior in general

Encyclopedia of Nineteenth-Century Photography by John Hannavy (Editor)

Product Description

The Encyclopedia of Nineteenth-Century Photography is the first comprehensive encyclopedia of world photography up to the beginning of the twentieth century. It sets out to be the standard, definitive reference work on the subject for years to come.

Its coverage is global – an important ‘first’ in that authorities from all over the world have contributed their expertise and scholarship towards making this a truly comprehensive publication. The Encyclopedia presents new and ground-breaking research alongside accounts of the major established figures in the nineteenth century arena.

Coverage includes all the key people, processes, equipment, movements, styles, debates and groupings which helped photography develop from being ‘a solution in search of a problem’ when first invented, to the essential communication tool, creative medium, and recorder of everyday life which it had become by the dawn of the twentieth century.

The sheer breadth of coverage in the 1200 essays makes the Encyclopedia of Nineteenth-Century Photography an essential reference source for academics, students, researchers and libraries worldwide.

Medieval Ireland: An Encyclopedia (Routledge Encyclopedias of the Middle Ages) by Sean Duffy

Product DescriptionMedieval Ireland presents the culture and society of Ireland from the sixth to the sixteenth century. The Encyclopedia will provide an exhaustive portrait of a lively and provocative period while exploring a rich field of study. Most scholarly works on Irish history cover either the pre- or post- Anglo-Norman invasion of 1169. Medieval Ireland will span both periods, resolving this artificial dichotomy in a natural manner within a single volume. Coverage of multiple fields of study will answer the increasing interdisciplinarity of Irish medieval studies. This comprehensive approach will help readers draw connections between disciplines and topics. Written by approximately 200 scholarly contributors, the work will be an authoritative reference that will appeal to scholars studying Ireland, to medievalists in general, and to anyone interested in Ireland and in the Middle Ages. It will also be useful to people studying such related topics as Anglo-Saxon England, Norman England, or Viking Scandinavia. This one-volume work is part of the Routledge Encyclopedias of the Middle Ages series.

From the Back CoverThrough violent incursions by the Vikings and the spread of Christianity, medieval Ireland maintained a distinctive Gaelic identity. From the sacred site of Tara to the manuscript illuminations in the Book of Kells, Anglo-Irish relations to the Connachta dynasty, Ireland during the middle ages was a rich and vivid culture.

Medieval Ireland: An Encyclopedia brings together in one authoritative resource the multiple facets of life in Ireland before and after the Anglo-Norman invasion of 1169, from the sixth to sixteenth century. Multidisciplinary in coverage, this A-Z reference work provides information on historical events, economics, politics, the arts, religion, intellectual history, and many other aspects of the period. Written by the world's leading scholars on the subject, this highly accessible reference work will enable students, researchers, and general readers alike to explore topics such as

* The development of the city of Dublin from the early Irish settlement of Áth Cliath (ford of hurdle-work) in the sixth century C.E. to a thriving medieval city

* The history of kings and kingships in medieval Ireland including political structure, royal dynasties, and historical roots

* Different literary genres including historical tales, satire, aideda, and Irish poetry as well as the outside influence on medieval Irish literature by the Carolingian dynasty, the Anglo-Saxons, the Scottish, and others

* The literary, political, and religious people from the Irish middle ages such as Marianus Scottus, Strongbow, Brian Boru, St. Brigit, and Richard FitzRalph

* The culture and society of the era including music, games, craftwork, role of women, fraternities, and bardic schools

With over 345 essays ranging from 250 to 2,500 words, Medieval Ireland paints a lively and colorful portrait of the time.

About the AuthorDr. Sean Duffy, heads the Department of Medieval History at Trinity College, Dublin. A historian, he is also the Chairman of the Friends of Medieval Dublin and a member of the Irish Committee of Historical Sciences. Dr. Duffy has authored several acclaimed books and contributed to many journals. His books have been praised for their clarity and thoroughness.

воскресенье, 7 декабря 2008 г.

DownloadReason in the Age of Science (Studies in Contemporary German Social Thought) by Hans-Georg Gadamer (Author), Frederick G. Lawrence (Translator)

Review

"This book will consolidate Gadamer's growing reputation in the English-speaking world. It will serve as an ideal introduction to Gadamer's thought, and to problems of hermeneutics more generally, since the essays included are clear and easy to follow. For those already familiar with Gadamer's philosophy, these essays are equally important because they illustrate themes in the recent development of his ideas. No one who reads this book will any longer suppose that hermeneutics is indifferent to social critique or political practice. I know of no other short work by Gadamer that offers a more succinct yet brilliant demonstration of the contemporary importance of Gadamer's philosophy."- Anthony Giddens, Kings College, Cambridge

"This collection of probing and lucidly written essays shows Gadamer as the leading Continental philosopher after Heidegger. It is an impassioned defense of practical reason, and of hermeneutics as a mode of practical philosophy, against the twin dangers of scientism and ideological partisanship. In the best humanist tradition Gadamer vindicates philosophical reflection as basic precondition of a life 'worth living.'"- Fred R. Dallmayr, University of Notre Dame

Product DescriptionThe essays in this book deal broadly with the question of what form reasoning about life and society can take in a culture permeated by scientific and technical modes of thought. They attempt to identify certain very basic types of questions that seem to escape scientific resolution and call for, in Gadamer's view, philosophical reflection of a hermeneutic sort.

In effect, Gadamer argues for the continued practical relevance of Socratic-Platonic modes of thought in respect to contemporary issues. As part of this argument, he advances his own views on the interplay of science, technology, and social policy.

These essays, which are not available in any existing translation or collection of Gadamer's work, are remarkably up-to-date with respect to the present state of his thinking, and they address issues that are particularly critical to social theory and philosophy.

Perhaps more than anyone else, Hans-Georg Gadamer, who is Professor Emeritus at the University of Heidelberg and Distinguished Visiting Professor at Boston College, is the doyen of German Philosophy. His previously translated works have been widely and enthusiastically received in this country. He is recognized as the chief theorist of hermeneutics, a strong and growing movement here in a number of disciplines, from theology and literary criticism to philosophy and social theory.

A book in the series Studies in Contemporary German Social Thought.

Language Notes Text: English, German (translation) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description Like the first edition, this edition ofThe Development of Plato's Political Theory provides a clear, scholarly account of Plato's political theory in the context of the social and political events of his time. This second edition has been thoroughly revised to take into account scholarly developments during the last twenty years.

About the Author

George Klosko is Henry L. and Grace Doherty Professor, Department of Politics, University of Virginia. His interests include the history of political theory, especially Plato, and contemporary political theory, including Rawlsian political liberalism, and political obligation. He is currently engaged in empirical studies of attitudes towards political obligations based on small focus groups.

Review"Miriam Stark has performed a monumental service to global archaeology by selecting the most important cross-cultural themes in Asian archaeology and many of the most innovative writers to discuss them." Gina L. Barnes, University of Durham "Offering remarkable coverage of the world's largest continent, Stark has created an outstanding book that should be required reading for any archaeologist or historian interested in Asia." John Olsen, University of Arizona "This volume is the seventh in the series Blackwell Studies in Global Archaeology, a series intended to cover the central areas of undergraduate archaeological teaching. While this is certainly a sustainable market for the series, this particular volume presents an overview and depth that will also, and perhaps more so, be a welcome addition to the libraries of postgraduate and research archaeologists ... Stark has assembled a valuable resource made all the more useful by not shying away from the scholarly and national politics reflected in so much Asian Archaeology" Australian Archaeology

“Miriam Stark has performed a monumental service to global archaeology by selecting the most important cross-cultural themes in Asian archaeology and many of the most innovative writers to discuss them.” Gina L. Barnes,University of Durham

“Offering remarkable coverage of the world’s largest continent, Stark has created an outstanding book that should be required reading for any archaeologist or historian interested in Asia.” John Olsen,University of Arizona

"This volume is the seventh in the series Blackwell Studies in Global Archaeology, a series intended to cover the central areas of undergraduate archaeological teaching. While this is certainly a sustainable market for the series, this particular volume presents an overview and depth that will also, and perhaps more so, be a welcome addition to the libraries of postgraduate and research archaeologists ... Stark has assembled a valuable resource made all the more useful by not shying away from the scholarly and national politics reflected in so much Asian Archaeology" Australian Archaeology

Product Description This introduction to the archaeology of Asia focuses on case studies from the region’s last 10,000 years of history.

Comprises fifteen chapters by some of the world’s foremost Asia archaeologists

Sheds light on the most compelling aspects of Asian archaeology, from the earliest evidence of plant domestication to the emergence of states and empires

Explores issues of cross-cultural significance, such as migration, urbanism, and technology

Presents original research data that challenges readers to think beyond national and regional boundaries

Kierkegaard on Faith and the Self: Collected Essays by C. Stephen EvansReviewA treasure trove from one of the world's finest Kierkegaard scholars. Fully sensitive to both the philosophical and theological dimensions of Kierkegaard's thought, Evans makes connections one will not find elsewhere. Like Kierkegaard's own writing, these essays are at once conceptually rigorous and spiritually up-building. --Merold Westphal, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, Fordham University

This collection of nineteen essays by Steve Evans is a treasure trove of incisive analytic papers on topics ranging from Kierkegaard's approach to philosophy to an extended reformist reading that illuminates both Kierkegaard and Plantinga in addition to penetrating studies of Kierkegaard's views of ethics, authority, and philosophical psychology. An absolutely necessary volume for Kierkegaard scholars, it will prove quite important for others in adjacent philosophic disciplines. --Robert L. Perkins, Professor of Philosophy, Emeritus, at Stetson University and Editor, International Kierkegaard Commentary

A treasure trove from one of the world's finest Kierkegaard scholars. Fully sensitive to both the philosophical and theological dimensions of Kierkegaard's thought, Evans makes connections one will not find elsewhere. Like Kierkegaard's own writing, these essays are at once conceptually rigorous and spiritually up-building. --Merold Westphal, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, Fordham University

Product DescriptionKierkegaard on Faith and the Self represents a rich collection of studies that allow SÃ¶ren Kierkegaard to speak directly to the questions of contemporary readers. Evans analyzes Kierkegaard as a philosopher, his perspectives on faith, reason, and epistemology, his ethics, and Kierkegaard's view of the self. Evans makes a strong case that Kierkegaard has something crucial to say to the Christian church as a philosopher and something equally crucial to say to the philosophical world as a Christian believer.

About the AuthorC. Stephen Evans (Ph.D. Yale University) is a University Professor of Philosophy and the Humanities at Baylor University. He is the author of more than sixteen books, including Kierkegaard's Ethic of Love (2004), Pocket Dictionary of Apologetics and Philosophy of Religion (2003), and The Historical Christ and the Jesus of Faith (1996).

четверг, 4 декабря 2008 г.

Cosmology And Architecture In Premodern Islam: An Architectural Reading Of Mystical Ideas (Suny Series in Islam) by Samer Akkach

Akkach seeped himself in the study of metaphysics, cosmology, and symbolism at the hands of Adrian Snodgrass and Peter Kollar of Sydney. He has also a great familiarity with the exposition of traditional doctrines by Rene Guenon, Frithjof Schuon, Seyyed Hossein Nasr, and others. These interests have led him to pen a work which is amazingly erudite, and fascinating. He has divided the work into four sections:

1) the discursive order, which deals with the study of symbolism in academia, and the various interpretations lended it by various modern academics, which is juxtaposed with the position of Traditionalists authors,

2) the metaphysical order, which discusses issues related to Sufi metaphysics, such as: Being and Presence, Primodiality, the metaphysics of the cosmogonic Word, the geometry of Being, and so forth,

3) the cosmological order, which deals with Archetypes, creation and the hierarchy of Being, and

4) the architectural order, which deals with the ordering of space in the Islamic architectural tradition, and how the Archetypes, and Sufi metaphysics in general are reflected in Islamic architecture.

Product Description'Rites of passage' is a term and concept more used than considered, and no previous attempt has been made to apply and test its implications in the field of Medieval Studies. In this collection of essays, a group of medievalists from a range of disciplines consider the various theoretical models - folklorist, anthropological, psychoanalytical - that can be used to analyse cultures of transition in the history and literature of fourteenth-century Europe. Ranging over a wide variety of texts from chronicles to romances, from priests' manuals to courtesy books, from state records to the writings of Chaucer, Gower and Froissart, the contributors identify and analyse medieval attitudes to the process of change in lifecycle, status, gender and power. A substantive introduction by Miri Rubin draws together the ideas and materials discussed in the book to illustrate the relevance and importance of anthropology to the study of medieval culture.

среда, 3 декабря 2008 г.

The Crusades from the Perspective of Byzantium and the Muslim World (Dumbarton Oaks Other Titles in Byzantine Studies)by Angeliki E. Laiou, Roy Parviz Mottahedeh (Editors)

ReviewThe Crusades from the Perspective of Byzantium and the Muslim World is the result of scholarly reassessments of the Crusades. The views expressed here complement the other examinations that focused on the internal and Western aspects of the movement on the nine-hundredth anniversary of the Council of Clermont. The volume opens with an introduction to the historiography of the Crusades, followed by wide-ranging discussions covering four topics: holy war in Byzantium and Islam; the approaches and attitudes of the various peoples affected by and involved in the Crusades; the movement's effect on the economies of the eastern Mediterranean; and the influence of the Crusades on the art and architecture of the East.

About the AuthorAngeliki E. Laiou is Dumbarton Oaks Professor of Byzantine History at Harvard University and a former Director of Dumbarton Oaks.

Written by renowned Aristotle scholar Sir David Ross, this study has long been established as one of the foremost surveys of Aristotle's life, work and philosophy.With John L. Ackrill's introduction and updated bibliography, created for the sixth edition, the book continues to serve as a standard guide, both for the student of ancient history and the general reader.

Cassell's Dictionary of Classical Mythology (Cassell Reference) by Jenny March

Product Description An award winner by an expert on ancient Greek culture! Gods and goddesses, personalities and places, history and archeology: this fascinating and superbly authoritative work taps into the richest veins of the classical world--its mythology. It covers all the principal stories, characters (divine, human, and animal), sacred sites, and important events that shaped past civilizations...and our own. Extensive quotations from the original sources and over 100 illustrations enliven more than 400 articles.

Ancient Letters and the New Testament: A Guide to Context and Exegesisby Hans-Josef Klauck

ReviewThe ancient world, both Jewish, Greek, Roman and Christian, was through and through a culture of letter writing. Klauck's already classic, German presentation and discussion from 1998 of the actual evidence for this claim is here made available in English in a thoroughly updated version that engages the best of both European and North American scholarship from the 20th and 21st centuries. The book is a must for anyone seriously concerned to understand ancient epistolary communication, including one-third of the New Testament. --Troels Engberg-Pedersen, University of Copenhagen

This is an outstanding book, since it combines basic syllabus material with advanced philological and exegetical scholarship. Its author displays a profound knowledge both of Early Christianity and of the Hellenistic-Roman world. A special asset consists of the numerous little-known examples of ancient letters which are presented in a most convenient and easily accessible way in this rich book. --Samuel Vollenweider, University of Zurich, Switzerland

This splendid book is vintage Klauck. He offers a close reading of a wide range of ancient letters as well as brief discussion of ancient epistolary theory and of rhetoric. He strikes just the right balance between basic instruction and original insight. --Abraham J. Malherbe, Buckingham Professor Emeritus of New Testament Criticism and Interpretation, Yale Divinity School

Product DescriptionThis volume places the New Testament letters squarely in the middle of all the important letter corpora of antiquity. Chapters cover the basic letter formula, papyrus and postal delivery, non-literary and diplomatic correspondence, Greek and Latin literary letters, epistolary theory, letters in early Judaism, and all the letters of the New Testament. Part I of each chapter surveys each corpus, followed by detailed exegetical examples in Part II. Comprehensive bibliographies and 54 exercises with answers suit this guide to student and scholar alike.

About the AuthorHans-Josef Klauck (Th. D. University of Munich) is the Naomi Shenstone Donnelly Professor of New Testament and Early Christian Literature at the University of Chicago.

вторник, 2 декабря 2008 г.

Qur'an or Koran, is the holy book in Islam. Muslims believe that the Qur'an is the literal word of God Allah) as revealed to Muhammad, over a period of twenty-three years by the angel Gabriel (Arabic and regard it as God's final revelation to mankind and the only revelation of God that has been preserved from textual distortion. In this index, similar subjects have been grouped together, and the words in the verses have been catalogued alphabetically to help the reader to learn the rulings of the Qur'an on a specific subject and to make research easier.

"Keck's impressive work examines the way in which belief in angels came to permeate medieval Christian society as deeply as belief in evolution steeps ours....Keck's exposition of the social-political consequences of angelology is fascinating....If I were to recommend one book on angels, Keck's impressive 'everything you wanted to know about angels but were afraid to ask' would be the one."--Theological Studies

Product DescriptionRecently angels have made a remarkable comeback in the popular imagination; their real heyday, however, was the Middle Ages. From the great shrines dedicated to Michael the Archangel at Mont-St-Michel and Monte Garano to the elaborate metaphysical speculations of the great thirteenth-century scholastics, angels dominated the physical, temporal, and intellectual landscape of the medieval West.

This book offers a full-scale study of angels and angelology in the Middle Ages. Seeking to discover how and why angels became so important in medieval society, David Keck considers a wide range of fascinating questions such as: Why do angels appear on baptismal fonts? How and why did angels become normative for certain members of the church? How did they become a required course of study? Did popular beliefs about angels diverge from the angelologies of the theologians? Why did some heretics claim to derive their authority from heavenly spirits? Keck spreads his net wide in the attempt to catch traces of angels and angelic beliefs in as many portions of the medieval world as possible. Metaphysics and mystery plays, prayers and pilgrimages, Cathars and cathedrals-all these and many more disparate sources taken together reveal a society deeply engaged with angels on all its levels and in some unlikely ways.

Macmillan Encyclopedia of Death and Dying. 2 Vol. Setby Robert Kastenbaum (Editor)

This new encyclopedia from Macmilan offers another option in the popular field of death reference works. The 327 signed entries, written by scholars and expert care providers, range in length from a few paragraphs to several pages. The focus of the entries is on exploring "the place of death in contemporary life," although the encyclopedia also aims to provide a historical perspective of death and dying through the ages. Types of entries include causes of death (Assassination, Cancer, Drowning) ; practices surrounding death (Cryonic suspension, Pyramids, Sympathy cards) ; individuals and events that have influenced the way we think about death (Sartre, Jean-Paul; Terrorist Attacks on America ); and entries on the nature or meaning of death from various multidisciplinary and multicultural perspectives (Confucius, Ghost Dance, Maya religion ). See also references are included at the end of each entry along with a bibliography featuring monographic, periodical, and Internet resources. Many of the entries are accompanied by one of the 150 black-and-white photos scattered throughout the volumes. An appendix profiles and gives contact information for 75 organizations active in death-related education, research, advocacy, or other areas. This is followed by a comprehensive general index.